Thorough
/ˈθʌr.ə/noun
Complete, careful, and done with great attention to detail.
Did you know?“Thorough” is a shortened form of “through,” and its older sense was intensely physical: something that went all the way through, completely penetrating or finishing a task.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
þurh
“through; by means of; from end to end”
Middle English
ME
thorogh
“through; complete; fully”
16th Century
English
thorough
“complete, absolute, done all the way through”
Modern English
English
thorough
“careful and complete in every detail”
Explore more surprising origins